When Colonial Virginia Bank employee Laurie Pennington sent an e-mail out before Christmas to let people know she would be collecting items to send to service members stationed overseas, she had no idea of the overwhelming response she would soon receive.

Pennington’s uncle, David Barrow, a long-time Colonial Virginia customer, was sent to the Middle East recently to train dogs for the military. Soon after being deployed with 34 Marines, Barrow asked some of his family to send items to his comrades who did not have the family support over the Christmas holiday that he was fortunate enough to have had.

Pennington said she soon sent an e-mail saying she would be sending a care package to her uncle and other Marines stationed with him. She included a list of acceptable items that could be sent to the servicemen and women.

"After sending the e-mail, I was expecting a few donations and contributions to help fill one or two boxes, but what I got was amazing," she said. "I received so many food and monetary donations that I was able to completely stuff 13 boxes to send."